www.brunswickparkprimary.co.uk

Friday 23 February 2018

      Tel: 020 7525 9033   

B r u n s w i c k P a r k P r i m a r y S c h o o l

     

       

e-Newsletter no. 24

This month's Focus Value is Kindness

 Dear Parents and Carers

Welcome to the first Newsletter of the new Half Term, and I hope you had an enjoyable

break with your children. I begin with two pieces of happy news to coincide with Easter’s

theme of new beginnings: our Upper Key Stage 2 HLTA Chantelle Thomas gave birth to her

first child Harper Rose on 19 January - she is tiny but healthy and both are doing well - and

our Learning Leader and Teacher of Class 3C Mrs Edel Fallon has announced she is

expecting her third child in May.  All very exciting, and we wish them and their families all

the very best.

On 6 February, schools across the country, including Brunswick Park, marked Internet Safety

Day.  It exists to raise awareness of the dangers and risks to young people and adults of

using the Internet, Apps, Games and all aspects of social media irresponsibly and without

understanding of the risks involved.  When technology is used safely it provides a wealth of

knowledge and opportunity.  I want our young people to reap its benefits, so this Newsletter

is dedicated to Online Safety.

Our children are curious, determined and clever, and are quicker than us adults to learn

how to use technology.  Whilst they are often a step ahead of us, it is our responsibility as

parents, carers and school staff to manage what our children see and do online.  If we do

not, children face the threats of online and cyber bullying, viewing or taking part in

inappropriate sexual behaviour, and in the most serious cases can be prosecuted and face

criminal conviction which stays with them on record forever.  Schools, parents and carers

have a duty of care – and there is one standard of care for everyone - to make sure they

have sufficient knowledge and understanding of the ways children use technology to keep

them safe.

The Local Authority has asked that schools distribute a letter to parents and carers from PC

Chris Chapman, Southwark Police Primary Schools Engagement Officer.  It is included in

this Newsletter.  Schools have also been advised to share information about a gaming site

called Roblox, and about how family members can work together to make their internet use

safe.  This information is also included.

On another topic, we are all looking forward very much to World Book Day on Thursday 1

March, and expect the school to be overrun with favourite characters (and the occasional

fairy, princess and superhero).  I will leave you to plan costumes!

With best wishes for a peaceful and enjoyable weekend.

Susannah Bellingham

 Head Teacher

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Celebrate the Power of Reading with us!Brunswick Park and the FoBs invite the children to come dressed as their favourite

book or story character for the day on Thursday 1 March, World Book Day.  In their

costumes, children will spend the day learning through book-based activities, and

will take part in a book swap organised kindly by the FoBs.  They will also be given a

World Book Day Voucher to spend on a book in their own time.  There will be a

winner in each class for each of the following categories:

-best book based costume

-effort on the day

Immediately after school there is a storytelling event for children, parents and

carers in the Ground Floor Intervention Space; please come along to hear a wide

variety of stories told by lots of different staff.  Refreshments are available!  The

FoBs have hosted this event very successfully for the last few years and are really

looking forward to seeing you.  Happy World Book Day!

ONLINE SAFETY CONCERNS

Southwark Police has contacted all Schools in the borough to make them aware of two current

areas of concern regarding online safety and we would like to make you equally aware so that you

can review your children’s online use, security settings and have an open discussion with your

children around online use and any concerns they have.

The first area of concern is what appears to be a growing issue of Viral Child Pornography which

appears to be sent via different Social Media Apps.

These videos are highly distressing and if your child tells you that he/she has seen something like this

you must call the Police on telephone number 101.

PLEASE REASSURE YOUR CHILD THAT THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING WRONG AND ARE NOT IN

TROUBLE.

PLEASE DO NOT VIEW THE VIDEO YOURSELF.

PLEASE DO NOT ATTEMPT TO SAVE THE VIDEO IN ANY FORMAT.

PLEASE MAKE A NOTE OF WHAT YOUR CHILD HAS REPORTED TO HAVE SEEN

POLICE WILL ATTEND AND ASK QUESTIONS AND MAY NEED TO SEIZE THE DEVICE IF REQUIRED.

The second area of concern is social networking Apps that allow users to talk/video chat with

strangers selected by the site. The main one highlighted to us recently is an APP called OMEGLE but

there are a host of others such as SHAGLE, CHATKI, ANONYCHAT, OMEtv, HOLLA, STRANGERCHAT

and more can be downloaded from app stores.

These sights are rated as being suitable for ‘Mature Users’ 17+ but the Apps do not appear to have

any checks to verify user age and suitability. I logged onto one of them and it lets you connect

straight away without any questions/filters.

Some of these sites display from the opening page an obvious sexualised appearance and are

suggestive of the nature of their use. This makes them unsuitable for anyone under the age of 17 or

older if vulnerable to suggestion.

If your child has used one of these sites, please delete the app from the device and have a

conversation with the child about it. If you are concerned about safeguarding issues for your child

surrounding the use of these kinds of Apps resulting in any noticeable changes in your child’s

behaviour, please contact your school and the Police re safeguarding intervention and advice.

Please also note the following information about minimum age requirements for social media Apps.

The following Apps require the user to be 13 and over:

Facebook

Twitter

Snapchat

Instagram

Pinterest

Tumblr

Reddit

Secret

Musical.y

The following Apps have an older Minimum Age Requirement:

WhatsApp – 16+

Vine – 17+

Linkedin – 14+

Viber – 16+

Air – 17+

You Tube – 18+ (13 if parent approves use)

Flickr – 18+

Kik – 18+

Persicope – 17+ (13 if parent approves use)

Meetme – 18+ (13 if parent approves use)

This list is not exhaustive but clearly illustrates that most social media are not suitable for young

people to use, and this is why we as parents and carers need to be aware of what our children are

doing online.

PC Chris Chapman 179MD

Southwark Police Primary School Engagement Officer

https://educateagainsthate.com

This website gives teachers, parents

and school leaders practical advice

and information on protecting

children from extremism and

radicalisation.

RobloxThere are concerns about how Roblox can be used to communicate with other users,

what content is available on Roblox that might not be suitable for children and what

ways children might accidentally run up costs while using it. There is useful information

about Roblox and safety tips on UK Safer Internet Centre’s website that can be

accessed via https://www.saferinternet.org.uk/blog/roblox-guide-parents

The UK Safer Internet Centre offers advice for families wanting to set clear boundaries

and expectations about online use.  Tips include: having an open and honest

conversation; creating a family agreement; looking at all your accounts; using the

internet together; knowing how to report and block. The link to the page is

https://www.saferinternet.org.uk/blog/setting-online-safety-resolutions-your-

family?

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Welcome to the UK Safer Internet Centre, where you can find online safety tips, advice and

resources to help children and young people stay safe online.

School Review

On Tuesday 27 February a team of advisers from the Local Authority will

visit the school for the day.  Brunswick Park is a Local Authority

Community School, so like all other Community Schools, it liaises with its

advisory team for training, advice and professional development.  The LA

has not visited the whole school for a long time, and we welcome this

opportunity to show the good practice found here.  The team of 5

people, all of whom are well known at Brunswick over many years, will

spend the day looking at learning in classrooms and at children's books,

and will chat to staff, children and parents.  So, if you see a couple of

unfamiliar people with clipboards and questions at the start of the

school day, you know who they belong to!

The FoBs Valentine's Cake Sale raised

£125!Thank you as always for your generous support (and hearty appetites).  They are very

much appreciated.

Interested in becoming a FoB?  Please ask at the School Office, where staff will

direct you to Kate, Tracy or Jude.

Year 6 Junior CitizenshipOn Friday 23 February Year 6 went to the Old Kent Road Fire Station for TfL's Junior Citizenship

course.  They learned about internet safety, how to stay safe online, how to stay safe on roads, rail and

all public transport, about fire safety and calling the Emergency Services.  This is done as part of the

children's preparation for secondary school, as most children travel on their own and need to know

how to keep themselves safe.

Year 1 went to London Zoo!On Thursday 8 February Year 1 went to London Zoo to learn about animals as

part their topic this term.  

As part of their learning in science, on 8 February, all of Year 1 enjoyed a fantastic day at London

Zoo.

The children took part in a fascinating workshop called ‘Colour, Camouflage and Pattern’, in which

they learned about the different purposes of colour and pattern on animal’s bodies. Did you know

that tree frogs are brightly coloured to warn predators that they are poisonous? Or that tigers are

stripy to blend in with the jungle grasses?

The children visited the penguins, the lions and tigers, African hunting dogs, butterfly house and

rainforest animals amongst others. As usual their behaviour and engagement were amazing and

they were a credit to you and to our school.

Reminders to all Parents and Carers

Correct School Uniform:

Please ensure your child comes to school in the correct

uniform. All children must wear black shoes, black or

grey school trousers or skirts and socks and Hijabs

should be plain white, black or grey.

Punctuality:

Please ensure your child arrives to school on time every

day; arriving late is embarrassing and missed learning

time affects achievement and stops your child from

reaching his or her potential.

Parking:

Please park carefully when dropping off and collecting

your children. Parking carelessly puts children at risk.

Wardens patrol for the children's safety and welfare.

Safeguarding Information

The designated team for

Safeguarding at Brunswick Park

Primary is

Susannah Bellingham

Fiona O’Malley and

Andrea Inniss-Griffith.

If you have any concerns about

any child, please contact us.

We are committed to

Safeguarding all children and

members of our school community

and take all concerns seriously.

Right to Reply:

23/02/18: Please email the address below to give us constructive

suggestions or comments, including your name and your child’s class .

Thank you.

For your information, key school policies are available on request from the School Office and can be downloaded

from the school Website under the ‘Our School’ tab.

Please check the website for further details about what children have been doing and learning in school.

Missed a newsletter? All newsletters are available for download from the School Website under the ‘News’ tab.

http://www.brunswickparkprimary.co.uk

Whole School Attendance Target = 97%

Attendance Update

Congratulations to Ruby Class for 100% attendance for week

ending 09.02.18!

Whole School Attendance for that week:  96.49%

office@ brunswickpark.southwark.sch.uk